Why Buy Local

It was supposed to snow today. Ten inches. But the big weather pattern stalled below Philadelphia. Washington D.C. is a playland of snow banks, cross country skiiers and site-seers. Very 19th c.

The Southold fishmarket had glistening, pinky white cod. Just right for fish 'n chips, Tom's favorite. And baked cod (in milk with potatoes) mine.

Why buy local?

So many reasons.

What it is NOT:

-on average picked 4-7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves.

-shipped an average of 1500 miles before being sold.

-had about 80 cents on the dollar taken out for packaging, shipping, marketing.

I like my money to stay local. I like to help keep the farms around. I like the taste of deliciously ripe in season. It's so worth the wait.

Helping keep another farm actually saves local taxes. Several studies in New England show that for every dollar paid in taxes on farmland the community saves about 30 cents in services. Unlike developed land, farmland and open space do not use services like police, school, hospital, etc. To compare, the tax dollar on home and business lots costs the community about 30 cents over that dollar. We could go bankrupt if we developed everything!

Another study. Guess what -- kids eating real food for breakfast, lunch and dinner raises their academic achievement. Food for thought.